Spencer Rattler, Jake Haener make last preseason cases to be New Orleans Saints' top backup quarterback

'Being able to work with these young quarterbacks and develop these young quarterbacks, that's our job'

Aug 25, 2024 at 07:03 PM

John DeShazier

Senior Writer

Check out the game action shots from the New Orleans Saints game against the Tennessee Titans in Week 3 of the 2024 NFL Preseason on Aug. 25, 2024 in the Caesars Superdome.

Dennis Allen said he feels good about his quarterback room following the New Orleans Saints' preseason finale Sunday afternoon, a 30-27 loss to the Titans in the Caesars Superdome.

Now comes the matter of establishing a pecking order behind starter Derek Carr.

Another page was added to the script between second-year veteran Jake Haener and rookie Spencer Rattler, and the final draft will be edited and presented to the team by the head coach in the near future.

Sunday, as Haener and Rattler alternated quarters (Haener took the first and third, Rattler the second and fourth), Haener completed eight of 17 passes for 87 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions, and a fumble off a sack, while Rattler completed seven of 13 for 105 yards and a touchdown, ran twice for 13 yards and led the offense to scores on all four of his possessions – two touchdowns and two field goals.

Haener led the Saints to a field goal in the third quarter, a drive on which a touchdown pass was erased by a holding penalty.

"I'd say over the last week to 10 days, I feel like Haener took a real big step forward in practice," Allen said. "I don't think we saw as much of that in the game. Now, whether the reasons why – was it the routes or protections or misreads or whatever the case may be – I think we go back and look at the tape and evaluate what that was.

"I thought Spencer did some nice things. He looked calm, poised, made some good throws, was able to extend some plays with his feet, get some first downs by running. I felt good about, and feel good about, the quarterback room."

Allen said that having two capable, young quarterbacks behind Carr is a plus.

"Being able to work with these young quarterbacks and develop these young quarterbacks, that's our job," he said. "That's what we've got to be able to do. So, we've got to figure out how we're going to be able to get that done."

Rattler's production jumped off the page Sunday, beginning with a perfect throw to receiver Equanimeous St. Brown just inside the right front pylon for a 21-yard touchdown on third-and-12 with 9:49 left in the second quarter. St. Brown maintained possession after a jarring blow.

"They zoned it off, ball wasn't supposed to go there but he ran a great route, I trusted him and put it where I needed to," Rattler said. "And he made a heck of a play. We're taught to play the play, but when you've got to go above Xs and Os, you've got to improvise sometimes."

It was one of three chunk plays Rattler had a hand in: The touchdown throw; a 43-yard completion to A.T. Perry which led to Jacob Kibodi's 2-yard touchdown run that gave New Orleans a 27-23 lead with 6:26 left; and a 21-yard defensive pass interference penalty on a throw intended for Perry that was part of a five-play, 69-yard drive which ended on Kobodi's 11-yard scoring run.

Photos: Game Action | Saints vs Titans | 2024 Preseason Week 3